Raw eggs are safe to go back on the menu for pregnant women, experts conclude

Raw eggs are back on the menu and can even be eaten by pregnant women, officials have said, as the Government's food safety arm has changed its advice for first time in 15 years.

Tighter hygiene standards within UK hen farms mean British "Red Lion"-approved eggs are now free from salmonella, a potentially deadly bacteria which has been previously associated with eating raw eggs.

At the turn of the century, when advice over raw eggs was last issued, it was thought that around one in 700 Red Lion eggs contained the bug.

Current advice has meant that many women avoid eggs during pregnancy and weaning, yet health experts say that eggs are an important food for both mothers and babiesAndrew Joret, British Egg Industry Council

Salmonella, which can be killed by cooking, is transferred from the guts of chickens and infects eggs before they are laid.

They can also be contaminated by contact with faeces from infected chickens and other contaminated material.

As a result, previously official advice has always said that eating raw eggs, eggs with runny yolks or any food that is uncooked or only lightly cooked and contains raw eggs may cause food poisoning.

But a report recommends that Lion code eggs and those produced under equivalent schemes can be served raw or lightly cooked to those in vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, the young and the elderly.

Until now, it has advised these "at risk" groups to avoid eating them all together.

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The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the eradication in salmonella among Red Lion eggs can be attributed to "quality assurance" schemes including vaccinations for two main types of salmonella, keeping the eggs cool when transporting them from farms to retail outlets, enhanced testing, and improved farm hygiene including controlling rodents.

Non-hen eggs such as duck and quail eggs and hen eggs from outside the UK and which are not Red Lion approved should always be cooked thoroughly, the report said.

The FSA said: "Eggs produced under schemes other than the UK Lion Code or demonstrably equivalent comprehensive schemes and eggs from species other than chickens carry a higher risk of Salmonella contamination and should not be used for raw or lightly cooked egg products."

Andrew Joret, chairman of the British Egg Industry Council, which runs the British Lion scheme, said: "We have been confident for some time that the safety record of British Lion eggs means that vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, babies and elderly people should be able to consume them when runny.

"We know that many people in these groups, such as older people in care homes, would love to enjoy a traditional soft-boiled egg again.

"The report is particularly relevant for mothers - we know that the current advice has meant that many women avoid eggs during pregnancy and weaning, yet health experts say that eggs are an important food for both mothers and babies.

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"Not only are they highly nutritious, but emerging research also suggests that eating eggs in both pregnancy and early in the weaning process is likely to help reduce the risk of the baby developing an egg allergy."

Dr Juliet Gray, a registered nutritionist, said: "Eggs are highly nutritious, containing key nutrients including high quality protein, vitamin D, selenium, choline and omega-3 fatty acids, several of which are not found in many other foods.

"These nutrients are particularly important for many vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, babies and older people."